The following letters to the editor appear in the edition of April 3, 2003. Letters appearing in this space do not necessarily reflect the views of the Arlington Catholic Herald or the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. The editor reserves the right to edit letters as necessary. There is no guarantee of publication. Send letters to: letters@catholicherald.com.

Great Parish Profiles

Congratulations on the series of parish profiles appearing in your paper recently. It is fascinating to see the mosaic of parishes in the Diocese of Arlington come alive as individual pieces of past and present history. As with any history, the story of who did what, when and why, enlivens the tale of each parish.

When the account is one-sided — focusing solely on the present, for example — it is far less interesting. Such is the case with the report on St. Mary Parish in Alexandria. While correctly full of details about the acting administrator, Father Dennis Kleinmann, no mention was made of Father Stanley Krempa, pastor from 1990 to 1999, or Father Robert Avella, pastor from 1999-2002.

Just to set the matter straight, during Father Krempa’s pastorate, the bicentennial celebration was inaugurated, monies raised, and extensive renovation almost completed. Father Avella continued this work, and was responsible for the $3.5 million-dollar school renovation. Many of the 12,000 St. Mary parishioners still remember these men and would be glad to see them given the credit they deserve for the time spent and work done on behalf of the parish.

Mrs. J.W. Conway
Alexandria

Judge, Jury and Executioner

In your March 6 issue, I read a particular letter by Robert Baird that I found appalling and disheartening. Baird was writing in opposition of previously expressed views (ACH 2/6/03 and 2/20/03) that pro-life Catholics who do not also oppose the death penalty, are hypocrites. Not only are they hypocrites, but they are ignorant and in utter defiance of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This is not an eye-for-an-eye society. People who kill should face life imprisonment until the day God renders his judgment of their earthly existence. Most of these death row inmates would rather die than spend life in prison, by killing them you are essentially giving them what they want and easing their suffering. Cain murdered Abel, but his punishment wasn't death. To take this stance goes against the Bible itself. Wake up, Baird, you are not the judge, jury and executioner of people's lives, and it may be you who ends up standing trial in front of the Almighty.

Peter Ingerick
Dale City

Clear Thinking

Congratulations to James Berry, a senior at Christendom College, for giving all of us a clear and concise picture of the moral obligation to go to war with Iraq (ACH 3/27/03). His analysis of the Vatican’s reason for not supporting this war is something all Catholics, laity and clergy, should ponder.

Berry is the type of clear-thinking young American that gives hope to all of us in dire contrast to the rowdy, anti-war crowds we see on TV.

Richard W. O’Donnell
Warrenton

War Motives

While we are engaged in a morally questionable preemptive war with an ex-ally, whom we used to kill Iranians only a few years back, a war engineered by oil and Zionist interests, our commander-in-chief wants to reduce taxes for the super-rich. Of course, he will throw in a tax break for the troops, who are suffering the miscalculations of our politicians, who thought the Iraqis would surrender rather than defend their homeland. Did they forget Stalingrad?

Even before the war is won, Haliburton and other companies on good terms with Richard Cheney and the president will get multimillion-dollar contracts to rebuild what we destroyed, and they get to manage the second-largest oil reserve in the world. Regardless of how many troops we lose, and the number of innocent civilians killed, we will be assured of lower gas prices and higher profits for Royal Dutch and Exxon.

And we did all this because we love the Iraqi people and want them to enjoy democracy, even if it kills them. When President George Bush, Wolfowitz, Perle, Kristol and their evangelical partners, Robertson and Falwell, and Graham, are finished with Iraq, I assume Iran is next, then Syria, Libya and why not the rest of the Arab countries, since none of them like Israel, and our foreign policy is based on what Ariel Sharon wants. In any event, it does appear that we prefer Arabs to be dead or on their knees, and that included Christian as well as Muslim Arabs.

And we still have North Korea to contend with, but with China as their ally, and Seol so close to the border, no war there. Besides, we need China for all our Christmas decorations and other knick-knacks.

As a Marine officer who served in Korea 1952-53, I am not a pacifist, but as a Christian who believes in only just wars, our invasion of Iraq does not qualify, unless you include our need for cheap oil and reelection campaigns.

Robert J. O’Neill
Front Royal

Appalling Statement

As a Catholic, I'm appalled by Bishop Edwin O'Brien's statement. How can anyone say that this unprovoked aggression and carnage it carries with it is in any sense justified? His statements show flagrant disregard of human sufferings and the Holy Father's teachings. I hope that he'll realize his errors and issue an apology to millions of Catholics offended by these kinds of words.

Vlodek Tarnawski 

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